By Tenzin Dharpo
IMAGEIMAGE BODH GAYA, JAN. 14: The exile Tibetan government known officially as the Central Tibetan Administration this morning offered Tenshug or the long life prayer for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s health and long life, here at Bodh Gaya in central Indian state of Bihar marking the official conclusion of the 12-day Kalachakra itinerary. The exile Tibetan government is also the organizer for this year’s edition of the Kalachakra.
The Chief Minister of the host state, Nitish Kumar who was personally invested in the preparation of the event said that it was his government’s good fortune to host the Kalachakra in the state for the 5th time and thanked the Dalai Lama for the same.
Tibetan exile government PM Lobsang Sangay expressed joy over what he called the “best organised Kalchachakra till date” and thanked His Holiness the Dalai Lama whom he called “the greatest Nalanda master of this century” as well as the host state of Bihar and its CM Nitish Kumar for the support with infrastructure and deputation of his office and facilities during the Buddhist event.
The long life prayer for the 81-year-old Tibetan leader through the rites of wish-fulfilling White Tara (Dol-Kar) was performed in the morning following the ‘Empowerment of Avalokiteshvara (Chenresig Tsewang) by the Dalai Lama.
Besides the exile government, small groups such as the Delhi based Tibetan Business Association and the Nepal Himalayan community comprising 23 smaller groups from various pockets of Nepal is also among the sponsors of the ceremony.
IMAGEIMAGE Tibetan communities near the border of occupied Tibet in the Nepalese side like Limi, Bumla, Mogu, Karma-Rong, Rasua, Nyershangpa, Phugsumpu, Yalungpa, Yolmo, Sharwa, Tamang, Lapchi among others have representatives present at the ceremony. Ngodup who is from Kathmandu Nepal told Phayul, “We are all so happy and proud to be able to offer something for the long life of Kundun (a revered term used for the Dalai Lama). We are just very happy.”
The Tibetan leader in acknowledgment of the ceremony assured the devotees that he would live for al least two more decades. “Some prophecy and also my own dream indicated that I would live till the age of 113 which I am not sure but I will surely live for more around 100 years old. Hence, all of you need not worry and stay assured.”
Also in jest, the Tibetan leader who has a healthy leaning to science said laughing, “The people who are offering the tenshug (long life offering) really do not comprehend when they say I live for millions of years because then the world would come to a natural end and I will be the last man on earth.”
The Tibetan leader who has had a hectic schedule and also nursing a cold will return to his residence in Dharamshala on Monday (Jan. 16) after the successful completion of the 34th edition of the Kalachakra here in Bodh Gaya.
